Due to low TV Ratings “No Plans” To Replace Waltrip In NASCAR Booth

Darrell Waltrip

Fox Sports CEO & Exec Producer Eric Shanks said there are no current plans to replace NASCAR analyst Darrell Waltrip next year and instead could contract its booth from three people to two. Waltrip is retiring from his 19-year run with Fox Sports after this weekend’s broadcast at Sonoma, which is the last Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race this season before NBC Sports takes over next weekend.

There has been speculation about who will replace Waltrip next year and join play-by-play man Mike Joy and fellow analyst Jeff Gordon, but Shanks told THE DAILY that it is not a sure thing he will be replaced. Shanks in an email wrote, “Darrell has defined FOX NASCAR coverage from Day 1. You can’t simply snap your fingers and replace someone like him. For now, there is no plan to add anyone to the booth for 2020 … we’re just focusing on saying ‘thank you’ to DW.’" Adam Stern/SBD